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God provides trials to grow you

When we think of God, we like to think of him giving us good things. By “good” I mean things like health, family, friends, and faith. And it’s true that God does give us many good things like that. It says in the Bible:

“God [. . .] richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” (1 Tim 6:17)“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights . . .”(James 1:17)“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11)

It’s true. God gives us many good things. But how do you define “good”? Suppose someone you know has a heart condition and needs a heart transplant. The operation is risky, invasive, and the recovery is long and uncomfortable. Is the heart transplant “good”? Obviously, yes, if it works. But only because the benefits outweigh the cost and discomfort of the surgery.

Maybe what’s “good” or beneficial in life is harder to define than we first thought. If, in the big picture, some things which seem bad for us are actually beneficial in the long run, then it could be the case that we need to have a more open mind when it comes to the “bad” things in life.

The reality is that God can and does use illness, accidents, and all the garbage life throws at us for our good. As it says in the book of Romans . . .

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Below is a classic old hymn by John Newton (the dude who wrote “Amazing Grace”). In it are deep words reflecting on how God uses “bad” stuff to change us:

I asked the Lord that I might grow In faith, and love, and every grace; Might more of His salvation know, And seek, more earnestly, His face.

‘Twas He who taught me thus to pray, And He, I trust, has answered prayer! But it has been in such a way, As almost drove me to despair.

I hoped that in some favored hour, At once He’d answer my request; And by His love’s constraining pow’r, Subdue my sins, and give me rest.

Instead of this, He made me feel The hidden evils of my heart; And let the angry pow’rs of hell Assault my soul in every part.

Yea more, with His own hand He seemed Intent to aggravate my woe; Crossed all the fair designs I schemed, Blasted my gourds, and laid me low.

Lord, why is this, I trembling cried, Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death? “‘Tis in this way, the Lord replied, I answer prayer for grace and faith.

These inward trials I employ, From self, and pride, to set thee free; And break thy schemes of earthly joy, That thou may’st find thy all in Me.”

(John Newton 1779)

In reflecting on these words, it’s clear that Newton had the book of Jonah in mind (the reference to the ‘gourds’ is probably hinting at the ‘vine’ of Jonah chapter 4). Jonah’s story is filled with miracles and dramatic events that seem larger than life. But in a way it’s a very human story. We see in Jonah our own messy journey of change. Jonah is disobedient, then obedient, he’s happy, then unhappy, he enjoys God’s grace, but resents that God might be gracious to the ‘bad people’.

God provided a big storm that nearly killed Jonah. He provided the big fish to save him. He provided a ‘gourd’ or vine to shade Jonah. He provided a worm to eat the vine. The moral of the story is, to grow us spiritually God uses both the good and the bad to effect change in us.